Nirvana Stevia
Stevia Rebaudiana is an outstanding sweet tasting herb that has remarkable health promoting qualities, contains zero calories and it is absolutely safe to use. The glycosides in its leaves (Steviosides/Rebaudiosides) account for its incredible sweetness, making it unique among the nearly 300 species of Stevia plants. A good quality Stevia product has a taste that has been described as sweet, delicious and refreshing. Some people experience a slight licorice aftertaste.
But generally high quality Stevia contains very little of this aftertaste. Stevia is a small shrub that is native to North Eastern Paraguay and adjacent sections of Brazil in South America, where the Native Guarani Indians have used it for over 1500 years as a sweetener, a digestive aid, a tonic and as a topical aid in wound healing.
In the late 1880's a scientist named Antonio Bertoni discovered Stevia in Paraguay and announced his discovery of this species in a botanical journal and was credited with "discovering" Stevia. Hence the botanical name "Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni." Since then, there has been a steady growth in the popularity of Stevia outside of South America, to the extent that it is now being consumed in North America, China, Japan, Malaysia, Israel, South Korea, the whole Pacific Rim and now in Australia.
Stevia has many favorable and exciting health benefits and is completely non-toxic. The herb is nutrient rich, containing substantial amounts of calcium, phosphorous, as well as sodium, magnesium, zinc, rutin, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and over 100 phytonutrients.
Stevia is also being used as an aid to weight loss and weight management, since it contains zero calories and reduces the craving for sweet and fatty foods. Therefore weight watchers love it. It is ideal for children as it prevents tooth decay and cavities.
Unlike sugar, it does not trigger a rise in blood sugar levels. You wont get a sudden burst of energy followed by fatigue and a need for another "fix". Studies suggest that Stevia has a regulatory effect on the pancreas and could help stabilize blood sugar levels in the body, making it a wise choice for the people with diabetes and hypoglycemia. It increases energy, aids digestion and gastrointestinal functions and has many other health benefits.
Since artificial sweeteners have been banned in Japan for more than 20 years, the Japanese are the greatest consumers of Stevia and it is now estimated that in Japan Stevia is being used in over 30% of their food products. In Japan Stevia is used in Coca Cola for its Diet Coke, by Sunkist and Nestle as a sweetener and by Wrigleys in their sugar free gums . Stevia leaves vary widely in quality depending on where the plant is grown. Other than its native countries Paraguay and Brazil in South America, Stevia is also being cultivated in a number of countries including Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, and Malaysia.
Stevia has been reported to have a variety of tastes. The degree to which those flavors and aftertastes are present are based on the the region in which Stevia is grown, environmental factors, including soil, irrigation methods, sunlight, air purity, farming practices, processing, degree of refinement, extraction methods and storage conditions. All these factors can influence the quality and taste of a Stevia product bacterial and fungal contamination can be a problem and one must be careful about the original source of the Stevia. Generally Stevia plants that are grown in its natural habitat are of superior quality and taste.
Stevia comes in many forms. Fresh Stevia leaves and dried crushed leaf are Stevia in its most natural state. These are 15 to 30 times sweeter than sugar, green in color and not water soluble. Liquid forms made from whole leaf are very dark in color, almost black and come in different purity and strengths. READ LABELS CAREFULLY, some contain chemical additives and some liquids contain alcohol. Generally speaking the white extract powder is more pleasant with only a slight and negligible aftertaste. Extracts range between 150 to 300 times sweeter than sugar and come in either powder form, Stevia tablets or clear liquid (liquids need refrigeration if they do not contain preservatives and/or alcohol).
Tablets are a convenient product for consumers as they can be carried in handbags and pockets. Stevia extract powders are so sweet that it is very difficult to measure out the correct dosage. A lot of people end up using too much and this can influence their opinions in using this remarkable herbal extract. A good quality extract does not have the grassy or slightly bitter aftertaste that sometimes have been reported with the use of Stevia.
Enjoy the sweetness, taste and health benefits of good quality Stevia products without the guilt and ill effects of consuming sugar and other sweeteners. |
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